top of page
August 2026
Monthly Meeting
NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Growing Plant People - Horticulture Programs and Facilities at Southwestern College, With Holly McMullen, August 15, In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo, 1:30p -3:30p
Holly McMullen Holly McMullen is a tenured professor of plant science at Southwestern College and a field biologist with nearly a decade of experience working at the intersection of ecological research, habitat restoration, and higher education. Her expertise centers on the interactions between plants and animals, particularly within Southern California's diverse ecosystems, and she has conducted botanical and wildlife field surveys, managed large-scale restoration projects,
Jul 23
Articles
NEXT SD HORT BOOK CLUB: July 6, 2026 - Wilding by Isabella Tree At 4:30/5p On Zoom
By Karen England, for Let's Talk Plants! July 2026. Join us on Zoom for a discussion of July 6, 2026 - Wilding by Isabella Tree Note: The Zoom SDHBC meeting link is not published, instead it is emailed to discussion participants. If you would like to receive the link, please email info@sdhort.org with “book club” in the subject line. Looking Ahead: July 6, 2026 - Wilding by Isabella Tree Aug 3, 2026 - Literary Gardens by Sandra Lawrence Have you heard how much fun the SD Hort
Jul 1
GOING WILD WITH NATIVES: What you might find with your Great Valley Gumweed and Milkweed plants
By Susan Lewitt, for Let’s Talk Plants! July 2026. Bordered Patch butterfly. Photos by Christopher Christie, used with permission. What you might find with your Great Valley Gumweed and Milkweed plants Native plants support more than pollinators such as Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars. Here is another part of this web of life: On Tuesday May 5, I rolled out my recycling container, as usual. A few minutes later, when I came back to add to it, I was astonished to f
Jul 1
TREES, PLEASE! America's First Urban Forest Xylarium - A Legacy Project for Encinitas and a National First in Urban Forestry
By Tim Clancy, for Let’s Talk Plants! July 2026. Oakcrest Park entrance, February 2009. Image snipped from Google Maps by the Chartreuse Appreciation Society. America's First Urban Forest Xylarium Proposal Summary Encinitas has the opportunity to create what is likely be the first Urban Forest Xylarium in the United States—a permanent collection of wood specimens, tree cross-sections, photographs, and historical records documenting the trees that have shaped our community
Jul 1
PLANT FORUM: At The June 2026 Meeting
Edited by Tony Gurnoe, for Let’s Talk Plants! July 2026. In July 2025 Anne Murphy brought in a delightful bouquet of nine species of flowering California native plants for the Plant Forum. Graphic made by Karen England on Canva. For over two decades a meeting highlight was the Plant Forum, where a horticultural expert spoke about plants brought in by members. These descriptions appeared in the newsletter and are available free to the public on our website at...
Jul 1
HERITAGE HAUNTS: Tomatoes by Alice Lowe
Presented by Cathy Tylka, for Let's Talk Plants! July 2026. This article first appeared in June 2008, edition No. 165 of Let's Talk Plants! Wix stock photo of caprese salad. Tomatoes Here they come - large and small, round and oval, red and yellow and orange and green - ripe, freshly-picked tomatoes, grown with lots of sun and heat (my favorites come from a generous friend in Lakeside), and, whenever possible, eaten within minutes of picking. Those of us who can’t grow our ow
Jul 1
SHARING SECRETS: What is growing in your garden, or what do you plant in your garden, to attract natural bees?
Edited by Cathy Tylka, for Let's Talk Plants! July 2026. Sharing Secrets graphic made by Karen England using Canva. Question of the month – What is growing in your garden, or what do you plant in your garden, to attract natural bees? We learned much from the May Speaker, Dr. Molly Rightmeyer, about the need for natural habitat. Let’s see if we can use this important information. Honeybee on California Buckwheat. Photo provided by Cathy Tylka. Insects foraging nectar fro
Jul 1
GARDEN SURROUNDINGS: Enchanting Beach Access Brimming with Color!
By Francesca Filanc, for Let’s Talk Plants! July 2026. Enchanting Beach Access Brimming with Color! Photo credit: Francesca Filanc. Enchanting Beach Access Brimming with Color! Recently, I had the pleasure to take a trip up to the Bay Area to be with my daughter, Erica and her kids for a long weekend. We rented an Airbnb. We have rented this beautiful home before. The home is just a stone’s throw from having your feet in the sand. Photo credit: Francesca Filanc. As one approa
Jul 1
bottom of page